Summer Guide 2013

93 Days of Summer; 93 Ways to Enjoy Them

Downton Abbey is done
for the season, but, after all, it’s summertime and it’s probably better to
enjoy the outdoors than to watch reruns inside. Here’s an alternative: organize
a Downton-inspired
picnic. Head up the hill to the St. John’s College athletic field,
or go to Patrick Smith or Fort Marcy Park. Order one of
your impeccably dressed servants to rustle up some cucumber and cream cheese
sandwiches, dress in something light and flowy, put on your best British accent
and pretend you’re super-rich. (MRC)

58. The hills are alive…

Wednesday evenings throughout the summer, St. John’s
College hosts its Music on the Hill series (St. John’s College
athletic field, 6-8 pm Wednesdays through July 24). If a Downton
Abbey-inspired picnic’s not your thing, sunset evenings overlooking
the Rio Grande Valley with an impressive lineup of jazz musicians just might
be. (MRC)

59. Eat an ice cream cone

Earlier this spring, SFR went for a post-deadline beer
at Marble Brewing Co. From our balcony perch, we noticed that at least every
fourth person to cross the Plaza did so with an ice-cream cone in hand.
Presumably, once the dog days hit, the frequency of cone-toting individuals
will increase to every other person. Why not join the crowd? The
Plaza Bakery, located on the Plaza, has a full ice-cream bar of Haagen
Dazs flavors. Ecco Gelato and Espresso (105 E Marcy St.,
986-9778) makes their additive-free gelato in-house, with tantalizing flavors
like espresso and strawberry habañero. Mangiamo Pronto (228 Old Santa
Fe Trail, 989-1904), which, beginning this week, opens the doors of their
gelato and juice shop daily, offers the most refreshingly delicious (and
cooling!) blood orange gelato I’ve ever tasted, among a variety of other citrus
and dairy-based flavors. Yoberri Frozen Yogurt (325 W
San Francisco St.; 3466 Zafarano Drive), uses fresh ingredients and, as of
press time, offered peanut butter, blueberry with agave and classic tart fro-yo
flavors. (MRC)

60. Be a locavore

Minesh Bacrania

On Saturday and Tuesday mornings (8 am-1 pm)
throughout the summer months, the Santa Fe Farmers Market (1607
Paseo de Peralta) brings together a variety of local farmers and their produce
in the Santa Fe Railyard. The indoor-outdoor market is vibrant with fruit,
vegetables, flowers, breads and crafts. Escape the sun in the indoor market
space, or meander through the crowds outside as you nibble on farm-fresh snacks
and support local growers. (MRC)

For an escape from town sans car, the
Dale Ball Trails are the way to go. Meandering through 22 miles of
untouched foothill expanses, the trail system offers spectacular views,
wildlife sightings and a great way to get the body moving. (MRC)

So, you’re downtown, but you’re sick of the galleries,
the museums, the trinket shops and upscale boutiques. Why not check out New
Mexico’s capitol building? It’s shaped like a Zia, an ancient sun symbol—and,
at its center, the Capitol Rotunda Gallery is currently exhibiting a
vibrant display of handmade quilts. (MRC)

67. Go to the movies

A classic way to escape the summertime heat and forget
the daily stress, is to hunker down in a cool, dark movie theater. Check out
the Center
for Contemporary Arts’ Cinematheque (1050 Old Pecos Trail,
ccasantafe.org/cinematheque) or Santa Fe University of Art and
Design’s The Screen (1600 St. Michael’s Drive, thescreensf.com) for
alternatives to the summertime blockbusters. (MRC)

68. Get nostalgic

The world may not be all black and white, but Monroe
Gallery (112 Don Gaspar Ave., 992-0800) has extraordinary exhibits of
black-and-white photography. Currently showing is 1963,
photographs from the “year of change.” (MRC)

69. Kick it like a cowgirl

Hit up a local watering hole, the Cowgirl
BBQ (319 S Guadalupe St., 982-2565), where the waiters are cowboys and
girls, the music is live, and the patio is the perfect place to sip a margarita
or an ice-cold beer. (MRC)

70. Stroll along the Acequia Madre

Justin Horwath

Explore Santa Fe’s mother ditch. Running parallel to
Canyon Road, and without the tourist crowds, Acequia Madre is historic,
tree-lined and lush. If you’re lucky, there might even be water flowing through
it. (MRC)

71. Camp out

Mia Rose Carbone

Now that the fires are in full blaze, wilderness
camping is more of a challenge. But there are still plenty of getaways. For
instance, head up Hyde Park Road, or drive up to the Rio Chama for beautiful
nights under the stars. (MRC)

72. Make s’mores

Fire season means no campfires, but that doesn’t mean
you can’t fire up the BBQ (or, for that matter, turn on the gas range) and toast
a marshmallow, then sandwich it in between two graham crackers with some
slightly-melted milk chocolate. (God, doesn’t that sound amazing?) Just please,
please remember: Only you can prevent forest fires. (AS)

73. Do nothing

Seriously—doing absolutely nothing can be absolutely
amazing. (AS)

74. Get hitched

Nothing like a summer wedding, right? Ehh, I don’t
know. That shit is stressful. (AS)